Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait!

Neteyam takes Ao'nung's hand when it's offered to him, ignoring the sour look on his face as they head to the meeting marui that Tonowari uses when dealing with important meetings. It's decorative but impersonal, not meant for someone to live in. Tonowari, Tao'su and Ronal are already there as Neteyam, Ao'nung, and Rotxo enter. Tao'su must have snuck in when Calydor left with his remaining hunter to no doubt continue the search for his brother.

"Dad," Ao'nung says, tipping his head in greeting. "We need to talk to you about something."

Tonowari turns away from whatever he was saying to Ronal at the head of the room with Tao'su sitting off to the chief's right as his second to look at them. Ronal is still frowning, obviously upset about something and when the three boys lower before them, Neteyam made sure to place himself closer to her. When her eyes find his, he mouths if she's okay. Her expression smooths out and she nods, offering a little smile in acknowledgement and thanks for checking in.

"What is it, Ao'nung?" Tonowari asks, side-eyeing Neteyam and Rotxo, curious as to why they were there. He looks troubled too, which Neteyam can understand. Chief Neverus was his friend, and if Neteyam's scary vision is of him, then it probably didn't end well.

Ao'nung straightens his spine, clearing his throat, obviously nervous. This feels official, not a son talking to his father, but an heir speaking to his chief. Neteyam brings his hand over to Ao'nung's, giving it a squeeze that he hopes is encouraging, before pulling away. The look his betrothed sends him is quick but grateful, and Tonowari's expression softens a bit at the exchange and waits patiently for his son to speak.

"I..." Ao'nung starts, hesitates, licks his lips and then continues, "I was wondering, dad, if you had considered Neteyam's vision from the other night..."

Tonowari doesn't so much as blink while Ronal's eyes close and her face falls solemn. Tao'su considers before bowing his head and closing his own eyes. Tonowari's eyes flutter closed a moment after that, a look of pain crosses his features. He hadn't, Neteyam realizes, but now that he has, there is a pained realization there. What Neteyam saw truly was bad and definitely not a fate that Tonowari would wish upon his friend.

"Perhaps," Rotxo offers softly, sympathy and sadness on his face, "it was not you that Neteyam was seeing die, chief, but perhaps Chief Neverus..."

Neteyam feels tension coil in his gut hard enough for his tail to flicker behind him. Ronal's eyes open in time to catch the movement and Neteyam curses his body's more tactile tail, able to more easily express his emotions. Shame colors his cheeks, wishing that he could be more professional and not wear his emotions so blatantly. Ronal's gaze is both solemn and sympathetic.

"You think so?" Tao'su asks quietly, looking over at Neteyam, frowning a bit. "Do you remember the vision?"

Neteyam shakes his head. "No, but I'm based on what I now know, I saw an Olo'eyktan die, and we weren't sure that it was anyone other than the chief, until now. I'm guessing I didn't see definitively. Ao'nung mentioned that he hadn't seen the whole vision and since he was with me when I started to have it, I'm sure it's safe to assume that no one else did either."

Tonowari nods. "Unfortunately, we missed the first part of the vision, but the ending of it is as you say; an Olo'eyktan died. You were actually quite specific about it."

Neteyam tilts his head to the side. "Is that not normal? Am I usually more vague?"

"No," Ronal says, her voice even. "You explained the manner of his death as it was happening but made the point to say that the person dying was Olo'eyktan. That was the strange part."

Neteyam doesn't know what to say to that. He has no memory of his visions so he's not sure what's strange behavior for him during them so all he can do is take her word for it and wonder alongside them.

"We... don't know for sure, regardless," Tao'su says quietly, looking over at Tonowari and Ronal. "All we can do is hope that Chief Neveus is located soon and hopefully he's okay. If not, then we have to face the reality that someone intentionally went after him, and we don't know the reasoning for it. Until we know more or the people responsible for this is dealt with, we should all still be on alert, especially you, brother. Neveus is a fierce and skilled warrior, he won't so easily be caught off guard so you shouldn't be either."

Neteyam runs his fingers through his long hair, nodding alongside everyone else in the room.

Tonowari lets out a slow breath, his shoulders slumping a bit, fighting the defeat working across his expression. He just nods again and looks over at Ao'nung, and says, quietly, "Thank you for bringing this to me, my son. Was there anything else?"

Neteyam, Rotxo and Ao'nung all shake their head and with Tonowari's permission, depart so that the three could talk.

"We are going to end lessons early today," Neteyam says, lowering to sit next to Tsu'tey and Jake, closing their little circle, all their knees nearly touching. His dad and Tonowari went to finish up some last-minute things before their two families had their weekly get together tonight. Neteyam had basically taken over looking after Jake and Tsu'tey's training anyway, so it didn't bother him, and he knew that they were both still troubled by the whole Neveus situation from two days prior. It was okay with him whenever they had to leave early, Tsu'tey and Jake never gave him any issues so he didn't mind. "We'll finish up with some breathing exercises and then call it."

Both men nod, getting into position and closing their eyes to concentrate. Neteyam quietly watches them, gently adjusting their technique or offering advice whenever he saw fit, but mostly just let them concentrate in peace. He keeps running his hands through his hair, working through the knots on the loose half of his hair from the water. His hair is so much finer than the Metkayina's that it tangles so easily and is a pain to care for when it starts to get like this.

Neteyam glances over at Jake, taking in his long dreads, never having seen such a thing before and had to have the man explain to him what they were. They were healthy and well cared for but was uncommon for forest Na'vi, more specifically the Omatikaya, who favored braids over most other hairstyles. Even Kiri's hair, which was mostly loose had a few braids in it. But it was short enough that she doesn't appear to have the same problems as he does.

Tsu'tey's braids look so nice. Long and sleek and smooth. All the beads and accessories neatly woven in. The Metkayina don't really intertwine things into their braids as they run along the scalp, but they do wear hair accessories, just not so neatly woven into the hair itself. Even Neteyam's betrothal shell just rests against his forehead and hair, nothing really keeping it on except for the expert way of him styling his hair to hold it in place, but that's not foolproof either.

"Yes, Neteyam?"

Neteyam jumps, flushing when he realizes that Tsu'tey was staring at him. "I... I didn't, I... I'm sorry..."

Tsu'tey smiles and it's just so gentle and sweet, Neteyam can feel his heart melting at the sight of it. "Peace, ma'yawntu, I just felt your eyes for a while and was curious if you were wanting to say something."

Neteyam flushes more, especially at that sweet name. Forest Na'vi are definitely a lot more affectionate than reef Na'vi are. Even Jake presses his knee into Neteyam's, grinning when Neteyam couldn't bring himself to look him in the eye from embarrassment at being caught.

"I was just... I was admiring..." he struggles, trying to find the words while waving a hand at his flushed face, which only makes Jake chuckle and Tsu'tey to smile more. He looks around to see if anyone was listening in, which thankfully didn't appear to be the case. Ao'nung, his stupid friends, the Sully kids and Rotxo were a ways off, all arguing and splashing at each other in annoyance. Tsireya pops up from under the water and smacks Ao'nung in the back of the head disapprovingly, not faltering when he glares over at her.

He sighs, looking back over at the two, afraid that he'll start to get angry if he watches that for a second longer. "I was just... I was..." he groans, rubbing at his face before pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them, looking between Tsu'tey and Jake before quietly admitting, "I was admiring your hair. Both of you."

"Huh," Jake says, glancing at the three dreads resting on his shoulder as if he had no idea it was even there, which seems on par for him, while Tsu'tey looks genuinely surprised that had been what he was having trouble saying.

"Oh, why, thank you." He tilts his head, a crooked smile pulling at the corner of his lips. "There is nothing wrong with that, Neteyam. Why did you seem so nervous?"

"Embarrassed at being caught," Neteyam admits, trying to hide his flush behind his knees but the smile pulling at both of their faces was enough to tell him that even if it was hidden, they both knew he was blushing. Then he looks between the two men, their soft expressions and finally, softly admits, "I feel foolish but..." he hesitates. Then, even softer, asks, "May I ask something of you?"

Both of them straighten up and Neteyam feels so honored that they would take him so seriously. They made him feel important. Feel seen. They were always so respectful. So kind. Had they not, he's not sure he would be able to put into words the desire that's been building up in him for a while now. He's always wondered but never had anyone to ask, and since they showed up, he's always had this little nagging in the back of his head that's getting harder to ignore.

"Of course," Jake says. "Whatever it is, just ask."

Tsu'tey nods in agreement and Neteyam feels some of the tension loosen its grip on his shoulders as he looks between them before softly asking, "Can you... um... can you please... if it's not too much of a pain, I mean, if it doesn't bother you too much or is too much trouble... could you... please... um..." Okay, maybe he is still really nervous. But this feels so... so personal. Maybe he's right to feel foolish for wanting to ask.

"I'm sure whatever it is, we would be happy to help, ma'yawntu," Tsu'tey says softly. Jake closes his eyes at that too, a complex look crossing his features that clears quickly and he looks back at Neteyam with such a soft, sweet expression.

That sweet name feels so familiar, yet he knows no one has ever called him that. But it makes him feel warm inside. Safe. Loved. So very strange. Is this what it would have been like had he remained with his clan in the forest? It's not that he's unsatisfied with his life here, it's just... different. Not better, not worse. Just different. And he doesn't know if it's wrong for him to feel this way.

Neteyam swallows the emotion curling in his chest and asks, "Could you please... um... please show me how to braid my hair?"

It's a lot. The nerves at asking. The reality of what he was observing around him. Neteyam has been feeling very inadequate since the Sully's showed up. Before, since no one else had his hair, his styling, his look was unique, but now that he saw how an actual forest Na'vi styled and protected their hair, his felt... dirty. Messy. Childish.

Disappointing.

He felt foolish, like he looked silly for it. His braids weren't all the same length and thickness. They were mostly hidden in the bun he used for the upper half of his hair, but he knows that to the trained eye, it has to look really bad. No one has said anything, and they have all been so kind, but everyone else's just looked so... clean. So perfect. So beautiful. Neteyam feels so ugly. He knows that the further from his forehead he was able to bring himself to do, the sloppier it is because of how tired his arms got. He couldn't really ask anyone to help him, he felt so foolish.

Now Neteyam is just embarrassed by how ugly he feels.

Tsu'tey's hands envelope his face, thumbs running under his eyes and Neteyam is petrified to realize that he's made himself upset enough to start to cry. So. Fucking. Stupid.

"Beautiful boy," Tsu'tey rasps, face twisted into a soft, gentle expression, "please don't cry. I will teach you everything you could ever want to know. Don't feel shame for asking. You were a little boy when you were taken from the forest and your family. You wouldn't have been doing your own hair at that point anyway to have known how to do it the way that we do. Your parents would still be solely doing it. Don't be upset about something you had no control over. Please, I can't take your tears."

Neteyam lets out a little laugh, looking down but Tsu'tey doesn't let go of his face. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is so embarrassing. I feel so foolish. I know that I was young but it's... it's my hair. I feel like I should be able to do that much..."

"Do you want to know a secret?" Tsu'tey asks softly, gently lifting Neteyam's face so he has to meet his eyes.

"Okay..."

"I have never done my own hair," Tsu'tey says softly. Neteyam blinks in surprise.

"Y...You haven't?"

Tsu'tey shakes his head. "I should expound in that I mean that I have never braided my whole head because, as I'm sure you realized, it's hard. We are not solitary people, ma'yawntu. We have friends, parents, siblings help us do our hair. My parents helped me, then I met ma'Jake and it was him and Neytiri. Now my daughter Kiri helps too. I know how to do it. I help do my children's hair. Neytiri's in return. Even Jake's. We don't usually do our own hair, that's what family is for. It is a sign of trust, and love between two people."

This painful stab threatens to crack his chest in two and Neteyam squeezes his eyes shut to fight against the feeling. Of course, he's so foolish. He never should have asked. Now he doesn't just feel embarrassed, now he feels so... ugly. Not just in appearance, but for the desire and yearning he doesn't deserve to be feeling. He should have just let his mom keep trying, or better yet, just let it go. There are so many hairstyles out there. Yet he had to hold on to a piece of him that was just... so stupid to hold onto.

"Oh baby," Jake says softly, taking his hand and making him open his eyes to see the devastation written all over his face. "Baby boy, Tsu'tey is trying to say that you aren't asking anything strange. It's natural for us to help one another out." A tight squeeze of his little hand in Jake's much larger one. "We are honored that you would ask us for help."

"Yes, Neteyam," Tsu'tey says, running a thumb under his eye. "If your trust us enough to help you, I would be honored to." He swallows, eyes wetting a bit, but he blinks it away. "But only if you are okay with it."

"Only if... if you don't have a problem with it..." Neteyam rasps, taking a shuttering breath. "I don't want to do something wrong or be disrespectful or anything. I just... I don't know how to take care of my hair and I want to change that..."

"Then we would be happy to show you," Tsu'tey says so softly, so lovingly, that the last of the tension in Neteyam's gut uncoils and he feels his shoulders relax a bit more.

"Not tonight," Neteyam says softly, "and I know tomorrow is your rest day but - "

"Tomorrow sounds good to me," Jake says, cutting in smoothly and Tsu'tey nods, running his thumbs under Neteyam's eyes one last time before cupping his cheeks lovingly and finally pulling away.

Neteyam flushes again, sniffling slightly while folding his legs and looking down at the flap of his loincloth between his thighs, fighting the soft smile pulling at his lips. Softly he says, "Thank you for being so kind and understanding."

"Anything for you, baby boy," Jake says so softly Neteyam's not sure if the other man intended for him to hear or not, but either way, his chest warms up once more, feeling a kernel of love and appreciate growing stronger and stronger for these people and their infinite kindness.

"Ronal?" Neteyam says, setting his stone plate to the side after his meal that night pressed into Ao'nung's side, looking across the firepit to the Tsahik who was drinking at her juice while staring into the fire, lost to her thoughts. She blinks a few times, glancing over at him.

"Neteyam?"

Neteyam shifts slightly, hesitating for a split second, wondering if he was about to ask something that he shouldn't, but feeling emboldened from the conversation with Jake and Tsu'tey from earlier, he carefully asks, "Do you want me to take a look at the baby?"

It took Neteyam a split second to wonder how many people knew that Ronal was pregnant. She wasn't showing yet and they hadn't officially announced it to the clan, but what if he was the only person outside of her and Tonowari that knew, and he just told the entirety of both families? Well, except Rowee, who was snoring softly in his mom's arms.

A quick, panicked look around, realizing his mistake, thankfully revealed that no one other than Rotxo seemed surprised, then disgruntled when he realized that he was the only one who didn't know and glared at Ao'nung, who shrugged innocently.

"Not my secret to tell, Roxto," Ao'nung says, dismissively, which didn't help.

But Ronal's smile is paper thin, yet still gentle. In her eyes, though, is a flash of terror that she hides beneath her impassive exterior. She rolls her shoulder back and nods as if it didn't matter one way or the other but Tonowari reaches out to take the hand she has resting on her lap and holds it tightly. So Neteyam's not imagining how worried the Tsahik actually is, it seems.

Ao'nung's hands on his hips push him to his feet and he thanks his betrothed by running his tail across the other boy's cheek as he walks around the fire to kneel down in front of Ronal. His parents scoot away a bit to open up enough space for Tsireya to lower next to her mom, reaching out to take her other hand. Ronal glances over at her daughter, a complex look crossing her face before she swallows and looks back down at Neteyam resting on his knees in front of her.

"You are not very far along," Neteyam gently reminds her, which is probably why she hasn't actually asked for him to look after his initial offer. The newer the pregnancy, the less he'll probably see, but at this point, seeing anything might just give her some peace of mind. "It might be too soon for me to even see anything but I'm willing to try if you'll allow it."

Ronal nods, folding her legs toward Tonowari so that Neteyam can have easy access to her lightly softening stomach. Nothing yet to indicate pregnancy to even the casual observer. Neteyam knows that she's pregnant and that's the only reason that he can see the very slight changes already showing.

"May I touch you?" Neteyam asks despite her obvious permission. It makes him feel better to hear her say it out loud. It feels more polite.

"Yes," Ronal says, her voice tight and a flash of fear flickering behind her eyes but she doesn't pull away as Neteyam reaches forward and places his hands against the smooth skin of her stomach, closing his eyes to focus.

Somehow it didn't surprise Tsireya that Neteyam's favorite gift by the Great Mother was the ability to look in on babies. To see them before they were even born. He's so gentle, so sweet, it just didn't surprise her that he was always so ready to express this particular gift, even if the outcome isn't always great, and it can be painfully vague for those involved. But he has never shied away from it, and from what he's told her, it's such a beautiful thing to witness and he feels so thankful to be able to do it.

Tsireya knew about how scared her mom was for this pregnancy, seeing as she's lost so many babies after Tsireya that it's wearing her down. Three babies lost has really had its affect and Tsireya has spent a good portion of each of her visits to the Great Mother since her parents sat her and Ao'nung down a few weeks ago and told them to please protect her baby sibling. To help them grow to be big and strong.

Everyone is silent. Even the forest beyond the mangrove tree is seemingly quieter this night. Only the waves kissing the shoreline and the crackle of the fire is all that can be heard as Neteyam sits there, silent, as he focuses.

At first, there is no reaction, his face smooth, then a crease forms between his eyes as his softly glowing freckles in the darkening night brighten unnaturally bright, signifying that he was seeing something. A complex series of emotions cross over his face, his lips parting and a soft, shaking breath escapes him. Tsireya flinches at how tightly her mom squeezes her hand, terror flickering across her normally composed face. Even her dad's face is vulnerable in worry. Just like mom, he lost three babies too.

Tears leak under his eyelids and Tsireya's stomach plummets in horror as Neteyam pulls his hands away from Ronal's stomach and covers his face with them, letting out a shaky sob before carefully rubbing roughly at his face to try and wipe the tears away.

Her mother looks utterly devastated but whispers so softly, "Is my baby dead?"

Neteyam jerks, hands dropping to his lap and looks at her, taking in her destroyed expression before he reaches out to place his hands over both of her hands, the one being held by Tsireya and the one being held by Tonowari.

"Sometimes..." Neteyam say softly, his voice thick with emotion, "I can feel the emotions of the mother in the vision. And your emotions were so strong, Ronal, I'm sorry if I scared you. I was just... I was overwhelmed by them."

Ronal stiffens. "Does... Does that mean...?"

Neteyam smiles and it's so blindingly beautiful that Tsireya almost lets out a little cry of her own as her well up with happy tears.

"Oh Ronal," Neteyam whispers, "I saw her. I saw you give birth to her. Hold her in your arms as she cried."

Ronal blinks rapidly, swallowing a few times before choking out a soft, "She?" as Tonowari kisses her shoulder.

Neteyam nods, rubbing his face onto his own shoulder before clearing his throat. "Yes. Oh, Ronal, she's so beautiful. I have never seen a baby so crystal clear before. Considering how far along you are, I am surprised how clear she came through."

Ronal closes her eyes, letting out a shaking breath as tears slide down her cheeks. She takes a moment to collect herself, leaning back into Ao'nung who comes to stand behind her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders to hug her.

"It's still hazy around the edges so it's not set in stone or anything," Neteyam reminds her softly. "But it's pretty clear, a lot clearer than I've ever seen. Just keep taking care and I'll check again when you're further along if you want but, I think... at least right now, she's okay." He opens his mouth like he was going to add something but seems to think better of it and closes his mouth again.

But not fast enough for the sharp eyed Tsahik. Her body tenses slightly. "What? What were you going to add?"

"I..." Neteyam hesitates, looking between Tonowari and Ronal, worried. "I don't want to make you feel sad. But... I did see something else. Nothing bad, but... I just don't want to make you feel bad."

"Tell me," Ronal demands, eyes bright.

"Ronal," Tonowari says softly, squeezing her hand. "If it's nothing bad - "

"I want to know," Ronal says stubbornly. She swallows thickly, straightening her spine, not minding her oldest son holding her. "Tell me what you saw, Neteyam. I'm fine." Neteyam glances over at Tonowari in regret for having mentioned it, but Ronal snaps, "Don't look at him, Neteyam. I'm telling you that I'm fine. Tell me."

Neteyam pulls his hands back to himself, rubbing the back of one of them across his face before looking between Ronal and Tonowari before softly saying, "Your baby girl, she has three lights with her."

Tsireya and Ao'nung glance at each other in confusion, not understanding. Tonowari frowns, also not understanding, while glancing over at Ronal to see if she does. And at first, it looks like she doesn't, then, her entire face crumbles as realization hits her. Brokenly, she softly asks, "Is... Is that my other babies?"

Tonowari stiffens as Neteyam nods. "I think so. They are protecting her, I think. They..." He swallows before softly saying, "I don't think they ever passed through the eye of Eywa. They've been here with you, waiting. They never left. They've been waiting for her. She's... I think she's going to be the last, but they are giving her a chance. I don't know how to explain it, but it feels like she's going to make it because of them. It's why I can see her so clearly."

Neteyam has never seen Ronal break down and sob, but he wouldn't be surprised if she did just then, being told that not only is the baby growing inside her will be the last but that the only reason she'll probably make it is because the souls of the babies she lost remained to help make it so. He was so overwhelmed by Ronal's feelings and their own. These babies that just wanted their mom to be happy, so they helped their sister survive long enough to be born.

Neteyam can't imagine how that must feel to hear. Now he really regrets telling her, but then again, it also feels wrong not to. Like her children deserve to be recognized and Ronal deserves to know -

"They love you," Neteyam blurts out, realizing Ronal was still trying to analyze his words. "I could feel it in them. This was their gift to you, their mother. They loved you so much, they hated seeing you in pain. They heard all your prayers. To the Great Mother, to them. They heard them all because they weren't ready to leave you. They can't find peace until you do. Then they'll be free to rejoin the Great Mother."

Ronal does cry this time, pulling her hands away from her mate and her daughter to press into her face but not in pain, like Neteyam expected. They are relief and hope as she asks, "They don't hate me for not being strong enough?"

Neteyam leans up onto his knees, still staring up into her eyes as she wipes away at them, Ao'nung moving back so that Tonowari can lovingly wrap his arms around his mate and press his forehead into the side of her head.

"No, they don't," Neteyam says softly. "Their love for you was so strong that they were able to remain here to watch over you, to help you carry your new baby to term. They want you to be happy Ronal. Your tears of joy as you held your new baby in your arms was all they needed. It set them free, and I felt them rejoin the Great Mother at last."

"You did?" Ronal asks softly. "They were okay? Happy?"

"Yes," Neteyam says just as softly. "I know we have a long road ahead of us, and I can't imagine how you must feel about all of this, but at the end of this road, there is freedom. And a life worth living. The pain may never fully fade, but that doesn't mean there can't be joy. We'll take it one step at a time, but I'm here for you, we all are." He gestures around to all that are gathered, his mom quietly crying with her back against his dad's chest, no doubt fighting herself to want to go hug her best friend. "Because that's what a family does. We stick together, no matter what lies ahead."